The connection between heart rate variability (HRV), neurological health, and cognition: A literature review

Abstract

The heart and brain have bi-directional influences on each other, including autonomic regulation and hemodynamic connections. Heart rate variability (HRV) measures variation in beat-to-beat intervals. New findings about disorganized sinus rhythm (erratic rhythm, quantified as heart rate fragmentation, HRF) are discussed and suggest overestimation of autonomic activities in HRV changes, especially during aging or cardiovascular events. When excluding HRF, HRV is regulated via the central autonomic network (CAN). HRV acts as a proxy of autonomic activity and is associated with executive functions, decision-making, and emotional regulation in our health and wellbeing. Abnormal changes of HRV (e.g., decreased vagal functioning) are observed in various neurological conditions including mild cognitive impairments, dementia, mild traumatic brain injury, migraine, COVID-19, stroke, epilepsy, and psychological conditions (e.g., anxiety, stress, and schizophrenia). Efforts are needed to improve the dynamic and intriguing heart-brain interactions.

Unveiling the acute neurophysiological responses to strength training: an exploratory study on novices performing weightlifting bouts with different motor learning models

“…Concerning the correlation between EEG and HRV parameters, previous studies have mainly focused on simultaneously recording EEG and HRV in response to cognitive tasks [ 138 – 140 ]. These studies indicated that executive function is closely related to vagally mediated HRV parameters as a result of the involvement of inhibitory inputs from the prefrontal-subcortical inhibitory circuits to the heart via the vagus nerve [ 45 ].…”

History of concussion and lowered heart rate variability at rest beyond symptom recovery: a systematic review and meta-analysis

“…have all been shown to worsen due to a lowered HRV. Concussion frequency and severity can influence the development of these conditions, and although the degree of HRV decreases can differ based on factors such as the severity of a TBI, the negative impact that a lower HRV has on health remains the same whether it is caused by a TBI or some other neurological disease ( 33 ). Despite the authors writing that concussion is tied to ANS deficits, the other studies in this meta-analysis found no difference in values at rest and conclude that only in the presence of stressors will the ANS and HRV deficits become known ( 27 , 30 , 34 ).…”

Heart Rate Variability and Cognition: A Narrative Systematic Review of Longitudinal Studies

“…An increasing number of cross-sectional studies have shown there is an association between HRV and cognition, in generally healthy individuals across the age spectrum (for reviews, see [ 22 , 23 ]) as well as in subjects with neurocognitive disorders (for reviews see [ 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 ]) and with neuropsychiatric conditions (e.g., [ 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 ]). There are several possible explanations for this link.…”

“…Over the last decade, there has been an exponential rise in the number of publications on HRV and cognition [ 23 ]. Although the bulk of studies remain cross-sectional [ 22 , 47 ], longitudinal studies are beginning to emerge.…”